Overview

• John Barnes, who alleged that Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was awarded $2.1 billion in damages, including $65 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages.
• This verdict is one of the largest in the ongoing litigation Bayer faces over Roundup, with over 177,000 lawsuits filed and $16 billion set aside for settlements.
• Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, maintains that Roundup is safe and plans to appeal the Georgia jury's decision, citing regulatory and scientific support for glyphosate's safety.
• Glyphosate, Roundup's key ingredient, has been linked to cancer in some studies, though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated it is unlikely to be carcinogenic when used as directed.
• Bayer is lobbying for legislation to protect pesticide companies from liability if their product labeling complies with EPA regulations, a move criticized as limiting corporate accountability.